Noyan Tapan News Agency
Oct 14 2005

TURKISH LAWYER CONSIDERS PUNISHMENT IMPOSED ON HRANT DINK TO BE
INSUFFICIENT

ISTANBUL, OCTOBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The lawyer of
Mehmed Soykan, a party involved in the legal proceedings against
Hrant Dink, editor of the “Akos” Armenian newspaper of Istanbul,
submitted a claim to Turkish Cassation Court insisting that the
punishment of 6 months imposed on Hrant Dink and the delay of the
punishment contradicts the laws. As the “Marmara” daily informs
referring to the “Anatolu” agency, the lawyer insists that the court
had no right to impose a minimum punishment and to delay it. The
lawyer also reminded that another legal proceedings against Hrant
Dink continues in Urfa.

To recap, by the decision of the court Hrant Dink was convicted to 6
months’ imprisonment for “insulting the national originality of the
Turks.” At the same time, in consideration of defendant’s model
behaviour during the trial, the court delayed the punishment, which
means that Dink won’t be imprisoned unless he repeats what he has
done.

In an article published in early 2004 Dink applied to Armenians
calling up them to “give up hatred towards Turks, which poisons your
blood.”